Creston Schools proposes FY2014 budget

Creston School District has proposed its budget for fiscal year 2014, July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014.

The budget proposes a $15.04 total tax levy, a decrease of 41 cents from this fiscal year. The total tax levy is comprised of a general fund levy of $11.26, management levy of $1.06, voted physical plant and equipment levy of 31 cents, regular physical plant and equipment levy of 33 cents and debt service levy of $2.07.

A tax levy is the estimated total tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value on property.

Roy Stroud, Creston Schools business manager, said the management levy is “the fund that we pay out for certain insurances and early retirements, those types of things.”

The regular physical plant and equipment levy is established by the legislature, and the voted physical plant and equipment levy is voted on by the taxpayers and totals an additional 67 cents after a 2 percent income surtax. These levies are used for buildings and equipment.

The debt service is to pay off bonds.

This year the taxes levied on property are estimated to be $2,060,130.48, and FY2014 taxes are budgeted at $2,240,515.72, a $180,385.24 increase difference.

According to Stroud, the difference between the decrease in tax levy and increase in property taxes in because of an increase in countywide property valuation.

In other school board news:

• Changes will be made to High Lakes Country Academy to be compliant with state regulations. It will be renamed and diploma requirements will change.

• After discussion of cost and where to place them, the issue of handrails was tabled until next month’s meeting.

• The school board agreed to share Steve McDermott, future Creston superintendent, with Prescott School District.

• The board agreed to continue sharing classes with Southwestern Community College.